Moringa oleifera trees grow well in Jamaica and their parts are popularly used locally for\nvarious purposes and ailments. Antioxidant activities in Moringa oleifera samples from different parts\nof the world have different ranges. This study was initiated to determine the antioxidant activity of\nMoringa oleifera grown in Jamaica. Dried and milled Moringa oleifera leaves were extracted with\nethanol/water (4:1) followed by a series of liquidââ?¬â??liquid extractions. The antioxidant capacities of all\nfractions were tested using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. IC50 values (the amount of\nantioxidant needed to reduce 50% of DPPH) were then determined and values for the extracts ranged\nfrom 177 to 4458 g/mL. Extracts prepared using polar solvents had significantly higher antioxidant\ncapacities than others and may have clinical applications in any disease characterized by a chronic\nstate of oxidative stress, such as sickle cell anemia. Further work will involve the assessment of these\nextracts in a sickle cell model of oxidative stress.
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